Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Deklindipink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Deklindipink’, characterized by its single-type inflorescences with obovate-shaped, light pink-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about 41 days after the start of photoinductive treatments; and good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance for about 27 days in an interior environment.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DEKLINDIPINK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Deklindipink’.

The new Chrysanthemum was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on Jan. 6, 2006, asa naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum×morifoliumcultivar Deklindi White, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,815. Thenew Chrysanthemum was observed as a single plant in a group of floweringplants of the parent cultivar. The selection of this plant was based onits ray floret coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since Jan. 28,2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Deklindipink have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Deklindipink’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Deklindipink’ as a new and distinct cultivarof Chrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Single-type inflorescences with obovate-shaped, light        pink-colored ray florets.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about 41        days after the start of photoinductive treatments.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance        for about 27 days in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the parent, thecultivar Deklindi White, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger        discs than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Deklindi        White.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have more        ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar        Deklindi White.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Deklindi        White differ in ray floret color as plants of the cultivar        Deklindi White have white-colored ray florets.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have longer peduncles than        plants of the cultivar Deklindi White.    -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of        the cultivar Deklindi White.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Dekyen, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemumdiffered from plants of the cultivar Dekyen in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were less vigorous than        plants of the cultivar Dekyen.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller leaves than        plants of the cultivar Dekyen.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering        than plants of the cultivar Dekyen.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences        than plants of the cultivar Dekyen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true asit is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of thistype. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering stem of ‘Deklindipink’ grown as a spray type.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘Deklindipink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the spring in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercialpractice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given longday/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatmentsto induce flower initiation and development. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels were aboutseven kilolux. Plants were about eight weeks from planting when thephotographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar    Deklindipink.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of    Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Deklindi White, disclosed in U.S.    Plant Pat. No. 17,815.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About six to seven days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 13 to 15 days at            20° C.        -   Root description/habit.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color;            freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type cut flower            that is typically grown as a spray-type. Moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            60 cm. Spray diameter: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Number of lateral branches: About six to eight.            Internode length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent;            longitudinal ridged. Color: Close to 146B to 146C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 4 cm to 7 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Apex:            Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed; sinuses            divergent. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent,            slightly rough; veins prominent on lower surface. Color:            Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137C. Developing            foliage, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded            foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to            146A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, 146b. Petiole: Length: About 5 mm to 15 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth. Texture, lower surface: Slightly rough. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescence form with            obovate-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on            terminals, arising from leaf axils. Ray and disc florets            develop acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences slightly            fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness). Early and uniform flowering            response; plants exposed to two weeks of long day/short            night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive            short day/long night conditions flower about 41 days later            when grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,            inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and            substance for about 27 days.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—When grown as a spray type,            freely flowering habit, about 8 to 13 inflorescences per            flowering stem develop.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: about 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Depth            (height): About 1 cm. Disc diameter: About 5 mm to 6 mm.            Receptacle height: About 2 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 2            mm to 3 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 145B to 145C.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Oblate. Height: About 2 mm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: Close to between 144A and 137C.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 8 mm to 12 mm. Width: About 5 mm            to 7 mm. Shape: Obovate. Angle: Initially upright to about            30° from vertical to eventually perpendicular to the            peduncle. Apex: Rounded to tridentate. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; satiny. Number of ray florets per inflorescence:            About 25 to 30 arranged in about two to three whorls. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 75D. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 75C. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 75D; color becoming closer to 76D with development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 75D; towards the            margin, close to 75C.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Fused tubular, elongated. Apex: Acute.            Length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm to 1 mm.            Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 125. Color:            Immature: Apex: Close to 154A. Mid-section and base: Close            to 145D. Mature: Apex: Close to 2A. Mid-section and base:            Close to 145D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded to truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Number of involucral bracts per inflorescence:            About 20 arranged in about two whorls. Color, upper surface:            Close to 143B. Color, lower surface: Close to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length, first peduncle: About 4 cm to 5 cm.            Length, fourth peduncle: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to            1.5 mm. Angle: About 30° from vertical. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color:            Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Style length: About            3 mm. Style color: Close to 145D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Deklindipink’ as illustrated and described. 